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Those known to have served with 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own) during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Clifford Leslie Reginald. Pte.
- Crittall William. Pte.
- Eary James Richard .
- Hall George William. Pte.
- Harper Jack Theodore. L/Cpl.
- Hart Philip Edmund Charles. Pte.
- Hughes Hugh. Pte.
- Kirby Fredrick. Pte. (d.14th Nov 1943)
- Shackleford Kenneth Richard. L/Cpl.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
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Records of 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own) from other sources.
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own)? There are:1325 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own) available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Pte. Leslie Reginald Clifford 2nd Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment My father, Leslie Clifford served in Palestine 1938-1939, then was posted to Malta 1939-1942. His battalion transferred to the Dodecanese Islands, moving to Samos in 1943 and later to Leros, where the battalion surrendered. He was taken prisoner and held in Stalag XI-A in Altengrabow.
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Pte. Philip Edmund Charles Hart 2nd Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment My father, Philip Hart was a POW in Stalag 4G in Oschatz, Saxony from 1943 until the end of the war. Although he was not a tailor by trade, he managed to convince the Germans he was one, as he had knowledge having been in men’s outfitting (retail) before the war and after. This undoubtedly saved him, as many of his regiment (Royal West Kent) didn’t survive the salt mines. He was employed with Polish prisoners to repair officers’ uniforms from Colditz, and the officers used to keep them updated with what was happening with the war by leaving messages in trouser cuffs. Although not physically ill-treated, he was nevertheless chronically short of food and would not have survived without Red Cross parcels, although the Gestapo destroyed the contents on occasions, presumably as a demoralising exercise.
Following his internment, my father was repatriated to England just a few days after the war’s end on a Lancaster arriving in Sussex. My parents had been apart for five years. They married in April 1940 and my father was called up in the autumn, so they didn’t have long together before my father was sent abroad. His regiment was stationed in Malta and was there during the siege. My mother also did her bit in the war effort helping to make Horsa gliders in Christchurch, which were crucial for landing troops and supplies in battles later in the war.
After the war my mother and father remained happily married for 43 years. My father died in 1983.
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Pte. Hugh Hughes 2nd Btn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment My father, Hugh Hughes, served in the Welch Regiment from 1940 to his discharge in April 1946. He was transfered to 2nd Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment in October 1944.
In January 1945 he was sentenced to 8 days CB (Confined to Barracks). During this punishment he would have been made to report to the guardroom three times a day - at 7am, 6pm and at 10pm - which was at the sounding of last post. His offence was leaving a War Department vehicle unattended and not unmobilized. He was dischaged from the Army in April 1946.
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Pte. George William Hall 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment George Hall was posted to Malta in 1939 where he was defending Luqa Airfield till November 1942.
The 2nd Battalion Royal west Kent Regiment was then posted to North Africa. Records are not clear as to when he was captured but family members have told of capture in Malta. George was then marched and moved by train to Stalag IVf Hartmansdorf Chemnitz. Records first list George as missing, however, was reported on 16th of November 1943 as Prisoner in German hands. George was later set free and left the forces in 1946. Not much is know of his time in the battalion but if anyone knows of George please add your stories and comments.
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James Richard Eary 2nd Btn. West Kent Regiment The 2nd Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kents were billeted across the road from our residence at Tarshen, Malta. Being 6 years of age then I still recall the day WW2 started in Malta. Through the ensuing years I clearly recall a few soldiers that for us, were much like family. One in particular I well remember is James Eary, wearing a Red Cap. I would love to read a brief of his whereabouts after this regiment left the island. I believe he was transferred to the Dorset Regiment on 6th March 1944, but was not heard of since.
If at all possible, a photograph would truly put the icing on the cake for me and my family. I turned 80 in October 2013 and I would truly love to receive this information before father time beats me to it. Please, could you help or perhaps you may wish to pass this on to the correct source for me?
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Pte. Fredrick Kirby 2nd Battalion Queens Own West Kent (d.14th Nov 1943) My uncle, Fredrick Kirby, died in 1943. He was a Lance Corporal in the 70th Dorsets and in the Summer of 1941 boxed for the Regiment as bantam weight and won a trophy. He could have a good career but transferred himself to active service as a private in the Royal West Kent. He died in action on the 14th or 15th of November 1943. He is remembered in honor at Athern Memorial. I wonder if anyone has any informaton about him?
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